"I wouldn't change anything. I've made mistakes, but thanks to those mistakes, I've learned."
-Enrique Iglesias.
"You seem to have gained all the natural abilities that normal Kitsune's have," Grandmother Sora said thoughtfully as she took a seat between Amie and Gabriel. It had been a few hours after I had woken up and I was being taught the basics of being a Kitsune. As a pre-caution Gabriel was being sent to monitor my progress for the next few days; To be quite honest, I wasn't sure how that would turn out especially since Jacob nearly bit his head off last night but I was quite thrilled about it.
"But usually high status Kitsune does receive powerful abilities so, we shall see in the n ext few days what will happen. I am certain that you will receive at least one ability." Grandmother Sora concluded nodding as she took a sip of herbal green tea.
I was lazily sprawled out in Kokako's head but I was listening very intently to everything Grandmother Sora was saying. I was still a bit uneasy about this whole experience but…I didn't regret it in the slightest. Despite being a bit nervous about my new existence as a Kitsune I was eager to see what the future held in store for me.
"I see," I said quietly as I sat up on Kokako's massive head, "What kind of ability? Like, elemental type of stuff?" I suddenly gasped loudly, "I am going to be a water bender? 'Cause that would be so freakin' cool!" I squealed nearly falling off of Kokako's head.
Everyone seemed a bit confused on what I had just said but Grandmother Sora shook her head, "We range from different types of abilities depending on the type of the Kitsune." She murmured almost as if she were deep in her own thoughts.
I arched an eyebrow, "There are different types of Kitsune's?" I asked confused.
Gabriel nodded, "Yeah, they are about thirteen different kinds of Kitsune. The most powerful are Celestial and Void Kitsune's. Most of us here are Forest Kitsune's but Grandmother Sora and I are Celestial Kistune's. Most villages of Kitsune's have one or two Celestial Kistune's or even Void Kitsune's. They are usually the leaders." Gabriel explained with a small grin.
"So, what type of Kitsune am I?" I asked with curiosity.
Grandmother Sora and Gabriel exchanged unsure glances. "What is the matter? Do you foxes not know what she is, exactly?" Kokako rumbled impatiently when neither Grandmother Sora nor Gabriel spoke up. Kokako can really be a grouchy pants but that was because he wasn't good at socializing.
Gabriel shot Kokako a dirty, dry look but Grandmother Sora didn't look bothered at all by Kokako's bluntness, "Well, you see, we weren't sure what class of Kitsune Lady Serena was going to come out as but when Gabriel and I first scented her…well, it was a bit odd because her scent constantly changes. At first, she had smelt like a Celestial but not even a few seconds later did her scent change into one of a Thunder Kitsune and then a River Kitsune and so on and so forth. It was quite odd and intriguing. So, I believe she has very part of class of Kitsune in her."
I sniffed myself, "That's weird. What does that mean for me? Being thirteen different kinds of Kitsune, I mean." I asked as I began to long climb down Kokako.
"I am not sure," Grandmother Sora said quietly, "We can only wait until you've matured enough to develop your abilities." She said looking a bit uneasy.
I didn't like her expression. Grandmother Sora looked like the type of woman to rarely be affected by anything but the look of uneasiness didn't sit well with me. I merely shrugged it off and would ask Gabriel about it later.
"What will other Kitsune think when they hear about her? She might be in any danger but what of your kind?" Jinx, the Harpy, had been silent these past few hours as she sat upon in the tree. This was the first time she had spoken since I had woken up. Her question had struck a nerve with me and it was then I realized how right she was. Whereas, there were good foxes there was also bound to be bad ones.
"I've met a few of the Yako in my years and any of them would gladly rip her apart of her innocence and force mating with her. Is it wise to just send this one to protect her?" Jinx narrowed her soulful dark brown eyes down at Grandmother Sora. Gabriel had obviously been offended by this remark but keep his mouth shut. His mouth was pressed tightly in a thin line and his baby blue eyes were glowing in fury.
"What is a Yako?" I asked quietly probably guessing it was something bad.
"A Yako is a term used by other mythical creatures to refer towards a Kitsune. Yako in reference towards our race is usually meant for the bad, evil fox spirits. A term used in reference for good foxes is Zenko." Gabriel briefly explained.
"Word will spread," Grandmother Sora spoke after Gabriel and her voice was full of conviction, "There is no hiding such a thing from our world but we must be reminded that Lady Serena will not only be protected by a mature Celestial fox but the pack of werewolves that is her family."
My ears perked up at the mention of my wolves. My heart leapt joyfully and I felt my two tails sway happily behind me. "Also, there is the added fact that our precious Lady is bonded with one of them as well." Gabriel added with a thoughtful look.
"Do still believe there is threat to her while being under the protection of a pack of werewolves and a Celestial, Jinx?" Grandmother Sora wondered honestly.
Jinx had a blank look on her sad, beautiful face but said, "There will always be threat, old fox, this world has a knack of destroying innocence. This sunlight must be protected viciously, you are aware of this, yes?" Jinx demanded.
Did she refer me as sunlight? Aw, that was super sweet of her. For a savage, flesh eating harpy Jinx was a pretty chill. "We are very well aware," Grandmother Sora spoke with her voice hardening just the tiniest bit, "But that will not happen to Lady Serena." And that was the end of that discussion.
_break_
I was never really good with goodbyes. I honestly knew I would see Kokako, Jinx, Aimee, and Grandmother Sora again and hopefully soon. Ekko was tagging along since he didn't see the reason to stay. Grandmother Sora looked a bit relieved since there wasn't going to be any more raccoons stealing their berries anymore. Kokako didn't look pleased that I was leaving soon but I had made a promise to come back and visit very soon though…it still didn't please him. He had stated that if I ever needed help that he would always come to my aid no matter how far of a distance I was from him.
Jinx had remained in hidden in the tree but had given me a look that was meant to be careful. She still had her suspicion on the whole Yako thing but she knew there wasn't much that could be done although I had the strong feeling that she was up to something in her mind. Giving Aimee soft pats on her head and giving Grandmother Sora a hug, I went back to Gabriel's side with Ekko on my shoulder.
I felt a lot different now. My eyesight was much better but I couldn't help but to wonder about the things around me. My curiosity was definitely being spiked right now. I didn't possess any super human strength but I was a bit stronger then before. My skin, I had noticed, had taken an earthly color not in a weird way but a subtle kind of way. Basically, my senses had been heightened to a fine point. Gabriel did mention he would train me to hone my fox like skills.
I was a bit wobbly on my legs since I had gotten used to running around on furry four paws but I quickly got the hang of my two legs. With one last wave, Grandmother Sora teleported us to the edge of the forest that I recognized as Forks. "Well, at least she hit the mark." I sniggered stealing a glance at Gabriel who didn't look the bit least amused.
"Yeah, well, she's had at least three hundred years of practice whilst I've had only fifty, so, give me a break okay?" Gabriel replied hotly looking a bit offended.
"You've had fifty years to master it, Gabriel." I muttered knowing I'd get a reaction. He's honestly explained this concept to me at least a dozen times already.
Gabriel gave me a death glare, "Don't make me take you down before we've gotten started on training I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your family." He even added in a smirk.
I playfully gasped and narrowed eyes at him, "You do realize I've taken extensive defensive classes, right? And I also know a few things on hand-to-hand combat. Did you honestly believe my father would allow his only daughter to run around Las Vegas without any way of defending herself?" I asked with a snort.
Gabriel arched his eyebrows, "Really now? I'd have to witness these skills soon then." He said quite cheekily and almost as if he were doubting I even had these skills.
I point a threatening finger his way, "Don't say I didn't warn you." I grin with slight mischief. Jared and Embry made that same mistake as well and they had the bruises to prove it too.
"I don't think it's smart to blindly charge into a fight especially with a woman." Ekko stated a bit seriously while eying Gabriel.
"And who asked you, thief?" Gabriel snapped glaring at the raccoon who was sitting on top of my head again.
Ekko narrowed his dark brown eyes at Gabriel and mimicked my threatening finger pointing, "He who laughs first laughs last!"
I couldn't help but to laugh, "You definitely need to get your quotes right, Ekko." I giggle as I begin feeling a shift in the air around us. It wasn't ominous or dangerous in any way but before it had been peacefully quiet but now, I could feel a shift of disturbance in the air and it was heading our way. Was it my wolves? Had they sensed me already? I hope Sam wasn't working my boys to roughly. I furrow my eyebrows at the thought.
"Ah, I sense them." Gabriel murmured looking a bit surprised.
"I was feeling the same way," I answered his silent question, "Sam must've had our territory on lock down since I left last night." I quietly stated as we kept walking into the direction we were feeling the disturbance. We were silent for a few minutes, intently focused on the wolves heading our way. I could hear their heavy and loud footsteps racing towards us and their rapid heartbeats and as I focused more intently I could actually catch their scents. One in particular brought a smile on my face.
It seems Sam, Paul, Jared, Embry, and Jacob was headed this way and I couldn't help but to be so damn giddy about it. As they grew closer and the three of us had stopped walking I gasped slightly and looked at Gabriel with an amazed expression. "I can hear them!" I said with wide, awed eyes.
Gabriel rolled his eyes at my amusement, "Yes, well, since we are higher status Kitsune we had the ability to speak to mostly every type of creature or animal on the face of the planet. Although, with werewolves it is to a certain limit but this can easily be developed over time with some training." Gabriel explained and I couldn't help but to grin and dance happily before tuning into the conversation that my boys were having. They were unaware that I was able to hear them, I was assuming anyway.
"She smells different but I can smell that other Kitsune with her." That was Paul.
"The white one? He better not get too comfortable around my girl." Now, that was Jacob.
"I think we established that the white fox didn't have any romantic intentions for Serena, Jake." That was Embry and I could practically hear the eye roll coming from my best friend.
"Doesn't remove the feeling of wanting to rip his tail right off whenever he looks at her." Jake mumbled.
I rolled my eyes as Gabriel frowned, "Well, that's honestly quite brutal for my taste." He says looking a bit uneasy. If anything, he looked scared. I looked at Gabriel and tuned out of the conversation from my boys since Sam had snapped at them to shut up and focus.
"What's with the look?" I questioned.
Gabriel shook his head muttering, "The only way to kill a Kitsune is to rip off their tails or strike our orb of light." Gabriel explained, "We regenerate and heal very fast more so then the other mythical creatures but…our tails if cut off, they cannot grow back and we lose a fraction of our power from it. To hear such a thing from your mate is honestly very frightening. Not many know of this so, it is quite a surprise and I know he doesn't know the true meaning of his words but…" Gabriel definitely looked troubled and I didn't like it.
I would have to tell Jacob to cool it before he scares Gabriel to the point where Gabriel will think Jacob would fulfill his threat. I seriously doubt Jacob would do that but I had no doubt that he probably could so such a thing. I shiver slightly at the thought and ask, "What about the orb of light? Where is that?" I wondered curiously.
Gabriel blinked, "Um, well, if you pay close attention to your body you'll probably feel a warm, vibrating pulse coming from a random part of your body. This orb constantly moves around in our body as a protective mechanism just in case those who do know about the real ways to kill us happen to try it. Our Orb is what gives us our power…it fills us with our natural ability depending on our race of Kitsune. Mine is just bright, gold light since I'm a Celestial." Gabriel explained.
I nodded thoughtfully deciding I would focus on the orb of light later when I didn't have five werewolves charging towards me. I looked up right on time as five wolves sauntered into the small forest clearing. I grin brightly at the sight of my boys but mainly my heart leapt in joy of the sight of Jacob.
Sam eyed Gabriel warily and looked towards me with apparent relief, "She's the same, see? Nothing to worry about, Jake."
"She smells weird, as if, she has too many scents on her to be certain." Jared muttered lowly as they paced around us.
"Why does Serena have a raccoon on her fucking head?" Paul demanded as Ekko remained on my head and gave a sheepish wave at the massive wolves.
"I can hear you." I declared with an eye roll.
"Holy shit, you can?!" Embry yelped.
"Dude, that's so cool now Sam doesn't have to naked in order to talk to you!" Jared barked.
"Why is there a raccoon on your head, Serena?" Paul demanded.
"Sis, why do you smell weird? What happened?" Sam demanded a second later.
"Does it matter?" Jacob snarled sauntering over towards me with relief and happiness on his wolfy face, "She's back and she's safe. Although, you could've ditched the fox behind but I have a feeling he's here for a good reason." Jacob said as I happily reached out towards his muzzle and affectionately stroked the side with a giant, shit-eating grin on my face.
"He's here to train and monitor me for the next few days and or weeks, Jake." I answered softly as he grunted but remained in place seemingly relaxing into my gentle strokes against his muzzle.
"Serena," Sam said sternly.
"Why is there a raccoon on your head?!" Paul demanded loudly almost as if I didn't answer him soon he'd surely die from curiosity.
I rolled my eyes as Sam glared at Paul to shut up, "His name is Ekko and he's going to be my new, little buddy. He's the sweetest, trouble maker alive!" I said cooing at Ekko.
"Hell yeah I am! 'Bout time I got recognized for it too!" Ekko stated proudly while bumping his tiny fist on his chest.
"He's also a thief so better watch out." Gabriel added moodily.
Ekko glared at the fox spirit, "You're just jealous because Serena obviously adores me!" Ekko chattered angrily.
"Ah, yes, I'm jealous over the furry hat that steals berries from our food storage and blames it on the deer." Gabriel scoffed dryly.
Honestly, it looked funny as hell watching them go back and forth and it was then that I realized that the others had no idea what Ekko was saying. All they probably saw was an angry Raccoon waving his tiny hands in the air like a mad man and Gabriel spitting back with heated sass. It sounded pretty funny as I pictured it in my head. I giggled and turned back to my wolves, "Anyway, a lot has happened in the last twelve hours and you guys won't believe it at all!" I said with an excited grin.
"Well, let's get you three somewhere warm and safe. You look like you need a bath, sis." Sam teased lightly but the seriousness was still deep in his dark brown eyes.
I rubbed the back of my head, "Yeah, probably, I mean I've basically slept on the ground and I did run around in mud since Ekko dared me to, to see if my coat blended in with the mud." I recalled with a laugh.
"Wait," Jared said with shocked eyes, "What do you mean by that? Did you…were you transformed into a Kitsune?" Jared demanded.
I nodded, "Yeah, I was. Apparently, I was the first human born Kitsune." I said with a slight tilt to my head, "We're not quite sure why or even how but there isn't much we can do about it but to accept it and see what happens in the next few days." I stated quietly.
"Can you shift?" Paul asked.
I glanced at Gabriel who nodded, "She can shift between two forms as of right now. Her fox form and obviously her human form the third form is what makes her entirely unique but that's for a later story. Right now, she's probably weary of her day and needs rest." Gabriel answered a bit impatiently.
I blinked and nodded, "Yeah, dudes, I've been running around like my energy smoked some good stuff for hours and I honestly just want to shower and curl up into a ball." I stated with a grin feeling the energy in body beginning to drop with each passing minute and my body becoming very tired and sore for some reason.
Sam nodded and looked at Jacob, "Be careful with my baby sister, mutt."
Jacob glared heatedly at Sam, "As if I'm going to drop my imprintee, Sam." Jacob snarls in reply lowering himself so I could climb on his back.
"Will you keep you, Fox?" Sam asked eying Gabriel.
Gabriel blinked and quickly shifted gracefully into his large fox form. It was honestly beautiful to see because his bones didn't pop or bend or his body didn't convulse. It was simply as if someone poured water over him and he went from man to fox. It was hard to describe but it was definitely different from the way my boys would shift between forms.
I climbed onto Jacob and buried myself snugly into his warm and long fur. I felt him rumble lightly almost in content that I was so close and at his side again. "I missed you." I mumbled softly into his mind as the others began moving forward. Somehow, I felt this should be private and somehow, I felt my brain instinctively building a wall of privacy between Jacob and me to shield them from our mental conversation.
"I missed you too, Serena. I honestly was scared that you wouldn't come back." Jacob spoke up quietly.
I glanced towards the others watching for any type of reactions and after a few seconds I was satisfied when everyone seemed unaware of the conversation I was having with Jacob. I held on tightly but not enough to cause Jacob any discomfort, "Did you honestly believe I would leave you, Jacob? That I would be selfish enough to leave my family?" I asked in a whisper.
"No! I didn't mean like that, Serena, but, damn it, some part of me thought you would stay with…with your kind and that scared me." Jacob quickly blurted out.
I giggle and murmur gently, "Don't ever doubt that, Jacob, because no matter what I will always come back to your side. No matter what I'll always be by your side. You're stuck with me, wolf boy." I teased gently with another giggle.
Jacob grunts, "You definitely know how to make a wolf happy, Serena. You have no idea." He says in a mysterious voice.
"Where's Bells?" I briefly wondered.
"At home tomorrow begins spring break. She wanted to hang out tomorrow afternoon but I told her we had plans." Jacob said vaguely.
I felt myself arch an eyebrow, "Why? What are we doing tomorrow?" I asked, puzzled. We didn't have school tomorrow either!
I could hear the smirk in Jake's voice as he said, "I plan on keeping you all to myself tomorrow. I think I've earned my time to steal you away from these idiots, don't you think?" Jacob asked with slight laughter.
I couldn't contain the warm, bubbling sensation in my tummy when he said that, "I think you have." I whispered shyly burying my head into his fur. Our conversation ends comfortably and I allow the barrier to melt off our minds and we could hear the conversations being held between the four wolves and one fox. They seemed unconcern about Jake's silence or mine. Although, I did see Sam staring at me with curiosity and I looked back in question.
He shook his head giving me a look that said he would ask later. We arrived at the house and looking at the cozy cabin-like house I couldn't help but feel as if I had been gone for years which is pretty silly considering I had only been gone for an entire night. I could smell Emily's cooking and hear her moving about in the kitchen with obvious excitement and worry. I happily jumped off of Jacob and ran inside. I was definitely happy to tell my family what I experienced in the night that I was gone. I could barely contain my excitement.
"Honey I'm home!" I laughed busting through the double French doors with a large grin.